Umbrella



F. B. MCKINNEY UMBRELLA Nov. 20, 1928. 1,692,462

Filed April, 1928 zsneets-shest 1 Nov. 20, `1928.

1,692,462 -F. a. MCKINNEY UMBRELLA Filed pril 6,' 191'28 2 sheets-shan 2 Z fj-g. 9. 24 F 34.

WITNESSES INVEN'roR t 4 n 'I adapted to be sold for a small sum, or which comprisesla sheet of Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

p UNITED STATES :FRANCIS B. MKINNEY', or

CORPORATION, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, lA CORPORATION or PENNSYL- VANIA.

` Application filed April 6,

The invention relates to temporary or' `with a slit extending inwardly from the edge,

preferablyA substantially to thel center, ythe vslit edges being overlapped to cause the sheety .to assume a conical form, and theoverlapped edges then stitchedl together to maintain the material in itsoverlapped form. The slit ispreferably radial; and the stitching may be done with thread,y metal, and the like.V Although the structure maybe provided withv a handle in a variety of ways, this is preferably accomplished by overlapping the slit edges sufficiently vto provide an underlying flap of substantial width, and stitching the material close to the edge ofthe outer, -or upper, overlapping portion, wherebythe flap referred to. forms a vgripping member, which of Figs. 3 anda; Figs. et@ p ing .another modification, in which'Fig. 6

maybe slotted forhand engagementy if' desired. `The term selfform-sustainingvas used herein refers to material'eapable ofv maintaining a shaped form without necessitating any reinforcement. y Y I The invention is illustrated inthe 'accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a planl view of'a sheet of materialpreparedffor constructing an umbrella; Fig 2 a front eleva- :tional view 'of the sheet. shownin Fig. 1 `formed intofan umbrella; Figs; 3 and 4 are views respectively similar to Figs. '1 and. 2 showing a modification;,Fig.. 5 is ailap-reinforcing member for usewiththe structure shows a sheet prepared for overlapping gFig. --7 .the completed umbrella; .Fig 8 a `iap-reini forcing member 5 and Fig.` 9 .a section' through.

9are views show- `UMPBELLA.

1928. serial No. 267,952. y n theoverlapped portion taken Online IX-IX ofFig.7. Y

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, av sheet lof a ATENT OFFICE.-

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoR To THR PARELLA semi-rigidmaterial*possessing sulicient stif-k y'ness to. make the completed umbrella self form-sustaining, and sufficiently waterproof,y A

such lfor example, as calendered or paraffined cardboard, is provided'with a slit 2 extending radially from the Aedge substan# tially to the center ofthe sheet, vthe portions adjacent the slit vbeing indicated by the letters A and-B.` In order'to form theumbrella, portions A and vB'are*overlapped to lcause thesheet to assume a conical, umbrella-like form, andthe overlapped edges are stitched together, as at 3, Fig.y 2', with thread,- wire, metal clips, or with any other suitable material. Although the stitching may be done in such a manner-as to itself provide a handle,

miV

it is preferred to vforni a gripping member .l

.by provide overlapping the slit edges suiiciently to upper, portion, sothatthe flap can be seized l to support the umbrella overfthe hea'd. The

edge of theflap thus formed isshown inV dotted` lines at 4, Fig. 2, and the edge of the'overlying portionk is indicated by the numeral 5. Although the flap described would in many ferred embodiment of the invention gripping is rendered.v easier and more `certain by cut.- ting a slot 6 adapted for engagement by the a flap of substantialwidth on the underside ofthe umbrella, and to stitch the,` Vmaterial ynear the edge of the overlyinggorV vcases suiiiceas a gripping member, vin the prehand, in the material adjacent one side of the slit and near the edge of the sheet, as shown .in Fig. 1. In vthiscase, portion B is lapped,"v

over portion .A j f, Y A modification is shown 1n Figs. `3 and 4;,in

ywhicha' sheet ofmaterial 7l is provided withv a slit 8.r which in this caseisof curved form, l and a rslot 9 is cut von one sideythereof. The umbrella is shaped,as inthe preceding examf ple', by lapping portion C over portion D, and

stitching, as at 10,' near the overlying edge flap of greater width at ythe gripping end.

In order to strengthen the .gripping `fiaps ltoy prevent tearing or destruction thereof,

they may be reinforced, and preferably this is accomplished by `stitchinga strip ofthe ,same material to thelapg Fig. 5 shcmvsarer y, *'11 of portion C. This form'of slit providesa formed in other ways.V

folded on the latter to :provide ai as shown in 9..

intorcing strip l2 adapted for use with the umbrella shown in Fig. el. This strip is ot the same size and outline as the underlying flapforming portion, and is provided with a slot 9@ which, when the edges ot' the strip are properly aligned with those of the flap, registers with slot 9. it is disposed against the iiap and sewed with it. Sueh'strips may, ot course,be used with any ot the umbrellas` according to the invention. l "I The sheets used maybe ot' `the `circular form shown in F l and 3, or they may tatie other forms, toa' example provide a structure having a notched "peripherysimilar to that ot the usual umbrella, as in ll ig. 6. Lrlllso, the flaps oi` the umbrellas inw-accordance with the invention @ne such modiiication is shown in Figs. '6 to 9. An umbrella-forming sheet 115 blanlred tron'isuitable sel-t `torin-sustaining material toA have `a continuous series ot' `arcu` ate notches or scallops 16, oit substantially equal size, with the exception oit one, l?, which is smaller, the horns of all the notches lying on the periphery of a. circumscriliing circle, thus Vdentate outline. The sheet'is provided with a slit 18 extending radially inwardly trom one horn oit the small nottclil substantially tothe center ot the sheet, andoV similarly disposed line otl weakness 19 extends trom the center ot vnotch 1.7 to a point remoted'rom the periphery, to meet a slit Q0 extending laterally from the sli't edge toward Athe lineol' weakness, as shown in Fig. '6. Slots `21 'are cutin the sheet on each side `of Athe line oli' weakness and adjacent the periphery, inthe portion indicatedV by Vthe letter F. A flap reinforcing strip 22, Fig. 8, is 'also provided, which consists of a body iportion of the same shape as the material between slits 18 and 2() and line ot weakness 19, and a Vhead portion haring an ear 23 extendinglaterall'y ytromone side. :A slot 2l is` also :provided in `the bodf,7 portion. Y. Y V ln the assembly olf 4this-umbrella, the material between slit 18 -andlinefot weakness i9 member, and strip 22 is inserted therebetween,

The shape ot the ytolded flap produced by lateral slit 20, Yand of strip 22 p rmit ready )and easy'assembly to quiclily align the strip with, the tia-p and bring .slotla into register .with slots 20, it bein-g necessary only to' insert fthestr-rp between the; i'olds and pull it outwardly until ear 4the material along slit 20 lto accomplish this. Then the flap has been thuslormed, it may .be-stitched together, yor the umbrella gmaybeshaped by lapping portion E over portion Rtoproduce the conical shape,vai id i VVthenstitched 'at 2l, near the :edge ot the outer overlapping portion,` las shown in` Fig. lt

pro-

they may be `cut .to

may bey providing :a sheet4 oit circularly gripping Y istanti ally "to the center` `and.

`form a conical, Vumhreha-hire `fstanti'al width. and as'tittenine -s i g 3 duces a truly umbrella-like structure, and the small notch l? provides tor formino' the gripping member without interfering with the regular continuity of the notchesin the assembled umbrella.

The umbrella according to the invention can be made very inexpensively, the only inaterial required being the sheet material and the thread or other stitching material; 'l he sheets will usually be blanked out troni square stocln-in which case it will usually be possible to cut the reinforcing strips rom the corners A minimum of operations are necessary, and no supplementary handle, handle-attaching, or rib members `are necessary. The umbrellas thus prorided are highly etlicient `tor their purpose, and from substantially all standpoints are more satisfactory 'than the emergency umbrellas lheretoil'ore produced. 5 Y

lhe umbrellas provided Vby the invention are-esfiecially suitable for advertising` purposes, Vas advertising matter may be printedV on either, or both, sides, and owing to their low cost they are suitable for distribution to persons congregated outdoors, as at fairs. athletic events, races, and the like. be sold for a small'sum, Vin stores or other places; or by means of dispensing 'machines situated at 4convenient points. y

According to the provisions ot' the'patent 3 Ontheyinay statutes, I have explained the principle and operation Toti my invention :and `have illustrated and described what I now consider to be itsllireferred embodiment.` However, I desire tohave it understood that',withifn the scope ot the appended claiinslthe invention engagement.'

` V2. 4An emergency umbrella comprising a single sheet of self form-sustaining material of substantially circulai'outline :provided with a slit extending from the edge substantially to the centerand overlapped atrthe slit, the overlappedmaterialbeing stitched ftogether tof provide al gripping flap onthe under side and to maintain the material in `conical `iiiii'm. Y 'f 1 i f 3. An emergency umbrella ycom prisi ng a Vsheet of self 'form-sustaining `material vprovidedwith a slitertending fromtheedgesuboverlapped fto structure, the `underly-ing flap thus formed @being of' subip disposed against said liap, the material being stitched .slots disposed adjacent one edge of saidslit near the periphery, the unslotted portion being lapped over the slotted portion to shape the material into umbrella-like form, the underlyingV flap thus formed being foldedover itself to bring the slots into register, and the overlapped material being stitchedV together near the edge of the outer overlying portion to maintain said form, said flap providing a gripping member. Y 5. A n emergency umbrella comprislng a sheet of self form-sustaining material vof circularly dentate outline provided with a radial the center and overlapped at the slit, the underlying flap thus formed being provided with a radially disposed line of Weakness and slit laterally from the edge to said line of Weakness at a point remote from the periph-r` ery, said flap being folded over itself along saidpline of Weakness; a flap-reinforcingV strip disposed Within said fold, and a slot through saidflap and strip near the periph ery, said material being stitched together near the edge of the outer overlapping portion, to form a self-sustaining umbrella structure provided with a gripping member.

In testimony whereof, I sign my name, Y

FRANCIS B. MCKINNEY.

20 slit extending from' the edge substantiallyv to 

